Design and Construction
Knysna’s revision of the St. Francis 44 was not merely cosmetic. The original design had center engine placement in the hulls, which the Knysna team moved towards the stern and supplemented with a small stern scoop to increase sea kindliness and motion. That aft engine shift gave more space to work with mid-ships in each hull and provided more lift in waves, offsetting the relatively low bridge deck. Structurally, the hull is built with an Airex foam core and hand laid vacuum-bagged Vinylester, giving it high strength and lighter weight. Above the waterline, headroom was increased from the original 6’2”, and the buyer can choose from several workable options for cabin, hull, head and main saloon layouts, tailored to specific requirements. The low profile itself was achieved through deft treatment of the hull-to-deck connection and a relatively small deck saloon, while an arch on the stern carries the mainsheet out of people range.
Rig and Handling
The standard sailing rig of big main and furling genoa can be supplemented with an optional screecher on a bowsprit and also a spinnaker. At the helm, the layout gives access to all sail controls so a single watch skipper can handle the boat without help, and next to the helm is access to a cabin where off-watch crew or the skipper can sleep and still be within earshot if help is needed on watch. The lower bridge deck allows for a lower profile overall, reducing windage and side slipping, and performance-wise this puts the boat in the middle with better upwind performance than many taller and heavier catamarans. In ideal conditions such as broad reaching in twenty-five knots in normal seas, the boat can sustain eight to ten knots, though overloading can slow it; as a lighter boat it responds to weight and loading and sails better when loaded to design specifications. Under power, paired twenty-seven horsepower engines are enough to move this relatively light boat around seven knots.
Accommodations
Walking around inside, the Knysna 440 doesn’t feel cramped, though hulls are narrower than other boats in this class. Knysna increased headroom above the waterline from the original 6’2”, and the specific boat visited for one review had two galleys. A choice of arrangements, for example galley-down or galley-up, is offered to suit either charter requirements or private use, and below deck the decor is influenced by the colors and style associated with beachfront living. The custom build-out extends to cabin, hull, head and main saloon layouts selected by the buyer.
Known Issues
The most debated feature is the 24” bridge deck clearance, which has taken a few slings and arrows from reviewers and commentators about how it is too low and will pound. Knysna addressed this partly by adding flanged surfaces to the bridge deck entry, to break up the shape of solid waves a little when they hit the hull. Owner experience tempers the criticism: one owner states he’s spent over 4,000 days on his boat without ever experiencing hard slapping and slamming from the lower bridge deck. Still, the lower bridge deck is a defining compromise — traded for reduced windage and side slipping, and for more lift in waves from the aft engine placement noted in the design revision.
Refits and Ownership
Because the 440 was offered as a semi-custom platform with multiple layout paths, ownership often centers on tailoring rather than correcting. The aft engine relocation and stern scoop were factory changes from the St. Francis baseline, not owner refits, and the paired 27 hp engines remain adequate to the light hull. The boat’s responsiveness to loading means owners who keep to design specifications preserve the handling the design targets.
The Verdict
The Knysna 440 is a thoughtful re-engineering of a known hull, trading some bridge-deck height for lower windage, better motion through aft-engine weighting, and a customizable interior that suits both private and charter use. It is a lighter catamaran that rewards disciplined loading and offers single-handed helm control, but the low bridge deck remains a point of contention despite owner reports of quiet passages.
Pros
- Aft-moved engines and stern scoop improve sea kindliness and mid-ship space
- Hand-laid vacuum-bagged Vinylester over Airex foam core for strength at light weight
- Single-skipper helm with all sail controls and adjacent watch cabin
- Better upwind performance than many taller, heavier catamarans
- Semi-custom layout choices for charter or private use
Cons
- 24” bridge deck clearance draws reviewer criticism for pounding tendency
- Narrower hulls than class peers
- Performance degrades if overloaded beyond design specifications
